Book3:WereMyDreamIs (第8/327页)

ilyathiscigarette.

    “Blind”repliedDimitrishortly.

    “Areyoureallyblindoronlypretendingtobe?”

    “OfcourseI’mreallyblind.WhyshouldIpretend?”

    “Ithoughtitwasyourchoiceofoccupation,youknow,pretendingtobeblindtogetthesympathyofpeoplepassingby.Youcouldjustsitatastreeterandaskformohat’sacushywayoflife,man.”

    “PerhapsonedaywhenI’mreallydownandout,Iwouldbeforcedtodoso”sighedDimitri.“Thatisoomakealiving.Inthisworldifitweren’tforthefactthattherewasnowayout,whowouldbewillingtolosetheirself-respedbeeabeggar?”

    Themanstoodup,tossedawayhiscigarettebuttandthenlookingslylyatDimitri,said,“Hey,olddog.Ifyouarewillingtogivemeanarette,Iwilltellyouaboutaerestingpieepehisneighborhood.”

    “Goon,takeanotherone”saidDimitritakingouthiscigarettepadgivingthemananotherowasgiventomebysomeoneelseanyway,sowhynotshareitwithfriends?”

    “Retlyaverystupidthiefbeganappearinginthisneighborhood”themanbegaakingafewpuffsathiscigarette.“He’snotonlyathief;heisalsoasexualpredator.Hemadeuseofthefactthatinthisrethotweathersomepeopledon’tclosetheirwindowstightlyatnightsohegotintopeople’shousesthroughopenwindowsandtriedtomolestthemistressofthehouseoryounggirls.Theywokeupandscreamedandshoutedandsomeevenmaocall911.Uptonowhehasneversucceededinhisendeavors,buthesomehowalwaysmaoescapeeverysiime.Imyselfsawhimproponehandonthewalndjumpeasilyintotheyard.Thensomehowhevaultedtothetopofthehouse,jumpingfromrooftoroofagilelyandeasily.Thepoliceshotathimbuthim.HemustbeanaplishedgymnastandaofeseKunFutobeableteupsuchheightsandmakehiswaythereasifitwereftground.”Dimitrisankihought.HeintuitivelyfeltthatthepersonwhoinquiredafterCharina’saddressawhileagowassomehowlihissexualpredator.“Hey,olddog.Doyoustillremembermyname?”askedtheman.“I’mDavid,remember.”

    “Yes,Iknowyourvoice.You’reDavid.”

    “Hey,olddog,whataboutlendingmeysses?Theylooknice.”

    “Whynot?”answeredDimitri,takingoffhissungssesandhandioDavid.Themanputonthesungsses,scoopedupthewhiteeatDimitri’sfeetandswiftlywalkedaway.

    “e,baeback.You...you...you...”sputteredDimitriindignantly.

    HearingDimitri’sshout,MaureenturnedandsawahomelessmanwalkquicklyawaytakingDimitri’sewithhim.Theintelligentdogknewsomethingmusthavehappened,soheimmediatelyfollowedhiddle-agedwomanwalkingdowepsofthepostofficetookpityonhimandtakingabillfromherpurse,haohim.David’seyeslightedupbehindthegsses,

    “Ohthankyou,generousandkieddy.Thankyouforthefive–dolrbill.”

    “Howdoyouknowit’safivedolrbill?”askedthewomaninastonishment.“yousee?”

    “Ohno,no,no...”stutteredDavid.“Iamblind,butIfeelthatit’sfivedolrs.”

    “What?”saidthewoman“Youknowhowmuchabillisjustbyfeelingit?”

    “Eh...no...no...no...Imean...”Davidwastryinghardtoextricatehimselffromthisembarrassingsituationauredwithhishandlooseninghisholdoee.Maureen,whohadbeensittingnearbywaitingforanopportunity,immediatelydashedupaedtheefromhishands,turnedandquicklymadeoffthewayhecamewiththeefirmlybetweenitsteeth.

    “Givemebackmywhitee,yousonofabitch”screamedDavid,runningafterthedog.“Givemebackmyw